Steering-gear for motor-vehicles.



W. H. APPLEMAN.

STEERING GEAR FOR MOTOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED MAYZ. 1910.

1,159,348, Patented Nov. 9, 1915.

v a SHEETS-SHEET I.

W. H. APPLEMAN.

STEERING GEAR FOR MOTO EHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED MA 910.

1 1 59,348 Patented Nov. 9, 1915.

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STEERING GEAR FOR MOTOR VEHICLES. APPLICATION FILED MAYZ, 1910.

1,159,348. Patented Nov. 9, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- iZfMJ. y wm/K w m/ %/M%%M WILLIAM H. APPLEMAN, orPITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

"STEERING-GEAR For. MOTOR-VEHICLES.

masses.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. a, fare.

Application filed May 2, 1910. Serial No. 559,034.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, WILLIAM H. APPLE- MAN, acitizen of the United States, and a resident of Pittsburgh, in thecounty of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a. new anduseful Improvement in Steering-Gears for Motor-Vehicles, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates especially to that portion of the steeringmechanism which actuates what is usually termed the steering arm.

The object of my invention is to provide a steering device of superiorstrength and durability, exceptional accessibility of interior parts,simplicity of adjustment in case of wear, and at the same time greatlyreduce the. cost of construction. I attain this object in the mechanismillustrated in the accompanying drawing in which Figure l is a rightside elevation View inclined in about the same position as it wouldoccupy when attached to a car, the right hand branch of the forked armand the right or near side of the housing, being removed in order toafford an unobstructed view of the internal mechanism, the pivotal boltsL being also removed in order that all the openings indicated at pointsF and G may be seen to pass entirely through the entire device. Fig. 2is a general view of that portion of the steering post that enters thehousing, and is provided with a right.

hand and a left hand thread, spaced apart and leaving an unthreadedspace in the center of less diameter than the threaded por tions. Fig. 3is a right side elevation view of a forked arm which in service occupiesthe position in which it is shown in Fig. 1. F ig. 4tis a short or stubsection of a reach rod, which serves as a connection between what isusually known as a steering gear,

and other portions of the steering mecha-' nism leading to the axles ofthe vehicle. Fig. 5 is a view of the type of bolts or pins used forpivotally attaching arm D, Figs. 1 and 3 to the internal mechanism shownin Fig. 1, and grouped along with it is a side and end view of thimbleswhich may be used on one of said bolts, preferably at G. F 6 isidentically the same as Fig. 1, omitting arm D and with the exceptionthat the sliding block at pivotal point G is transferred from within theforks of arm D to within a slotted opening in nut B, but is on the samepivotal bolt or pin. Fig. 7 is inevery sense a duplicate of Fig. 1,except that provision for sufficient oscillation in the pivotal ends ofnuts B and C has been made to accommodate them to the radial movementsof their pivotal connections with arm D and whereby the pivotalconnections may be fixed ones, instead of either of them having asliding movement. Fig. 8 is a side elevation of an arm similar to arm D,of Figs. 1 and 3 except that both pivotal openings at F and G are fixed,neither being slotted, thus perfectly adapting it to use with theoscillating nuts shown in Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a view of a blank orunfinished section of the steering post and is offered to moredistinctly show the taper in the portions that are to be threaded thancan be shown in Fig. 7, on account of the threads on same in Fig. 7being almost wholly concealed by nuts B and C. F ig. 10 is a view of ablank from which nuts like B and C Fig. 7 are made, and is offered inorder to more fully illustrate their external reduction in diameter atpoints marked 00 w. By milling same apart two right hand or two lefthand nuts are obtained owing tothe thread used. Fig. 11 is a side viewof the central part of the housing H, showing the enlargement in thehousing for forming the chamber to receive the bosses on nuts B and C,and also showing the slotted opening through which the pivotalconnections between nuts B and C and arm D of Figs. 1-68 and 13 areeffected. Fig. 12 may be considered as either a front or rear view ofthe forked end of arm D of Figs. 7 and 8 and substantially of Figs. .1and 3 although to be technically exact, the bosses at G, Figs. 1 and 3would be just a shade larger to accommodate a sliding pivotalconnection, but this feature does not show distinctly enough in thistype of view to require a specific drawing. Fig. 13 is either a front orrear view of my device as it would appear when assembled, except thatinstead of the regular forked arm D Figs. l3-7S and 12 being shown, amodification is illustrated which may be substituted, and actuated asWell as supported by the original and regular pivotal pins at F and G ofall figures. Fig. 14 is a top plan view of the modification stated, ofan oscillating member which may take place of D in all other figures,and is therefore designated as D pivotal boltsLbeing-shown with it. sFig. 15 is an end view of same as it would appear if sawed off even withthe bolt heads shown in Fig. 14;. Figs. 16 and 17 are plan views of theinside and outside of plate D which is applied to Fig. 14, when it isassembled complete either on or off of my device.

I have seen fit to show the aforesaid nuts B and C as fully encirclingthe steering posts, but wherever I have used the term nut in referringto them either in the specification or claims I have meant to imply athreaded member of such proportions as to support an enlargement orboss, and at the same time form a reasonable engagement with the threadson the steering post. This may be effected with any reasonable portionof a full circular nut.

Similar letters indicate similar parts shown throughout the severalfigures.

' AFigs. 1 and 2 is the lower or working portion of a rotatable steeringpost with a right hand and a left hand thread on and turning with saidsteering post, B and C are left hand and right hand nuts designed toengage with and move longitudinally upon their respective threads on thesteering post, the greater portion of said nuts presumably beingcircular on their outer surface, and of suitable diameter to move freelywithin the bore of the housing H, each of said nuts being provided at ornear what I choose to term their inner ends, with an enlargement or bossfor receiving or supporting pivotal connections or pins like or similarto those indicated by L Fig. 5. Nuts B and C are threaded internallyfrom their extreme outer ends up to where the bosses begin, but fromthence to their extreme inner ends they are enlarged or bored out so asto permit this portion of said nuts to ride smoothly over that portionof the opposing threads which may chance to rest within them.

D is the arm or member which connects with and actuates the reach rodFig. l, and is forked at its upper or inner end so as to permit one ofits branches to pass on either side of housing H, nuts B. and C. andsteering post A, the upper or what I term the inner or forked end isprovided with openings similarly spaced in each branch and indicated bypoints F and G, letters F and G being broadly used and also serving todesignate corresponding openings in nuts B and C. In arm D the openingsat either F or G (but not both) are slightly slotted or elongated inorder to provide pivotal com-v lindrical character, externally as wellas in ternally, except at the middle of its length where it is enlargedin order to provide suitable chambers for the bosses on nuts B and C.For convenience I have shown it bisected from end to end on a centralline at right angles from the natural line of vision, a verysatisfactory front or rear view (both being the same) may be obtained byreference to Fig. 13, and by totally disregarding the application ofFigs. 14 and 15.

In H Figs.1-3711 slotted openings are indicated in the housing'at pointsF and G by means of dotted lines, similar openings of course being alsomade in-corresponding positions of that half of the housing that hasbeen removed, and as more clearly indicated by Fig. 11. These openingspermit of a piv otal bolt such as indicated by L being passed entirelythrough the forks of'arm D, the.

connections used between oscillating arms and reach rods.

J and J presents an end and side new of a thimble such as I have shown.at G, Flg. 3,

one of which may be used in each branch of the forks of said arm at G.when desired by enlarging the slotted opening at G as shown in Fig. 3 toreceive it.

In describing the operation it is necessary to assume that a pivotalbolt L has been placed in each of the openings F and G Fig.

1, and if the steering post A now-be turned back and forth to the rightand left it'will cause nuts B and C to move back and forthlongitudinally in housing H on the steering post, and the bosseson nutsB and C along with their pivotal openings and pivotal pins on boltswhich they then contain, will also travel back and forth so as to passor partly pass one another, and by reason of these bolts also passingthrough corresponding openings in the forks of arm D a positiveoscillatory movement is imparted tosaid arm. Nuts B and C receivea veryliberal support direct from the steering post and while also beingfurther supported by housing IL'still if arm D be held from rotating,its oscillatory movement is effected equally as well without housing Has with it, as nuts B and C each become effective in either direction,'and with or without direct aid from the housing provide a direct andcomplete pivotal support for arm D.

In Figsil and 6, housing H is supposed to fit the external surface ofthe greater portions of nuts 13 and C, and both of said nuts aresupposed to travel at all times parallel with steering post A and as armD oscillates, one of its pivotal openings must be permitted to travel ona radial line. This radial movement calls for a slotted opening ineither arm D or one of the nuts B and C at either F or G, and inFigs. 1and 6, I show it in each fashion at G as being preferable, andhereinafter refer to it as compensati on or provision for compensation.

in F igs. 67 and 13 as well as their various component figures, partssimilar to or corresponding to those of Fig. 1 are also indicated bysimilar letters.

Fig. 6 is so similar in construction and operation to Fig. 1 as to needno general detailed description, the only distinction heing in themethod of providing compensa-.

tion at G, and which consists of making a slotted opening at a rightangle with steering post A in either nut B or C, preferably in B atpoint G,and in which event the pivotal openings in arm D at point Gwould no longer need to be slotted and if an internal thimble also beused, the latter would then conform in length to K Fig. 5, thus being inlength equal to the diameter of thecircular outlines of nut B. Thisslight modification of Fig. 1 merely transfers the compensa tion atpoint G, to within the confines of nut B, instead of leaving it withinthe con fines of arm D but in every other sense it is identical withFig. 1. The modification pre sented in Fig. 7 is also so slight as tocall for no general detailed description, since it also deals entirelywith the means of providing compensation required as a result of theradial movement of arm D, and is accomplished as follows: Commencing atthe outer ends of nuts 13 and C, they are slightlytapered externally upto where the bosses are formed, while the threads on the steering post Aare also slightly tapered from the outer toward the inner extremes oftheir respective lengths, this latter taper is inclicated by blank A.Fig. 9 while the former is indicated by blanks B and C Fig. 10, andindicates how they would appear before they are out apart and finished.in each the nor mal diameter is at X and the reduced diameters at a: Theslight change in the shape of nuts B and C Fig. 7 may be regarded asincidental, as it has no othersignificance than that of permitting themto be threaded a little tighter or closer on'steering post'A. Theforegoing provision for compensation also calls for the same slightchange in arm D as did Fig. 6 that is the openings at G do not need tobe slotted, but are both fixed as shown more distinctly in arm D Fig. 8.It will now be found that as the steering post A is rotated back andforth and nuts B and C Fig. 7 move longitudinally, their pivotal endswill rise partly out or drop more deeply into mesh with their respectivethreads on steering post A and that their pivotal ends will describe aradial as well as longitudinal movement, that is they will nod oroscillate. They con tinue however, to serve as the direct pivotalsupport for arm D and the pivotal connec tions between them are fixed,while the compensation which is no longer provided by a sliding pivotalconnection, is provided by the oscillation of the nuts themselveswithout any noticeable departure in the lateral fit of their threads inrelation to those on steering post- A.

Fig. 11 presents a side view of the central portion of housing H ofFigs. 16-7,

and 13.

Fig. 12 presents either a rear or front view of the forked portion ofarm D Figs. 13 7 and 8.

Fig. 13 presents both a rear and front view of housing H, in Figs. 16-7and 11 and also presents a modification in the manner of applying anoscillating arm to either Figs. 6 and 7 without involving changes intheir internal construction, while by slotting opening G in Figs. 15-16and 17 they then become adapted to Fig. 1. Figs. 14 15-46 and 17therefore present chiefly an anticipated construction and application ofan oscillating arm, involving a rock shaft which in turn is supported atits housing end by a fork similar in principle to the forked end of armD, Figs. 137 and 8, and which in turn is also directly supported by itspivotal connections with nuts B and C, Figs. 6-7 and 13. the arm itselfbeing carried and oscillated by said rock shaft. In order to furtheremphasize the fact that the modifications presented in Figs. 6 and 7deal wholly with the means of compensation required at the pivotal.connections between arms D Figs. l-C and 7, I wish to state that thedistinction although of extreme importance in actual service, isotherwise so slight, and the contour of contact points of nuts B and C1-6 and 7 so insignificant, that nuts as well as steering post A ofFigs. 1 and 7 are adapted to use with housing H, of Fig. 6 and at thesame time similar parts of Fig. 7 are also adapted to use in housing Hof Fig. 1. Furthermor if the threads on steering post A. Fig. 1 beslightly tapered as in Fig. 7 and nuts 18 and C of Fig. 1, be alsoslightly tapered or reduced in diameter near their bosses arm D Figs. 7and 8 will then be perfectly adapted to use with them,

the entire performance of such combination would become identical withthat of Fig. 7, without materially impairing its life of service.

What I claim therefore as my invention is i. e.

1. The combination of a rotatable steering post having a right hand anda left hand thread thereon, a right hand and a left hand nut movinglongitudinally on said threads, an extension or boss on each of saidnuts having a pivotal opening therein,

an oscillating member, and a pivotal bolt or pin passing through each ofsaid bosses and through said oscillating member.

2. The combination of a rotatable steering post having a right hand anda left hand thread thereon, a right hand and a left hand nut movinglongitudinally on said threads, a rocking member, and a direct pivotalconneetion between each of said nuts and said rocker, by means of whichthe longitudinal force of each of said nuts in either direction isdirectly delivered to said rocker.

3. The combination of a housing, a rotatable steering post enteringtherein having 'a right hand and a left hand thread thereon,

a right hand and a left hand nut moving longitudinally on said threads,an enlargement or abutment on each of said nuts having a transverseopening therein, a rocking member, and a pivotal bolt or pin passingthrough each of said transverse openings and entering into said rockingmember.

t. The combination of a housing, a rotatable steering post enteringtherein, having a right hand and a left hand thread thereon, a righthand and a left hand nut moving longitudinally on said threads andhaving abutments thereon, pivotal bolts or pins passing through saidabutments respectively, and a rocking member fulcruined upon and restingwholly upon said bolts or pins.

5; The combination of a rotatable steering post having a right hand anda left hand thread thereon, a right hand and a left hand nut movinglongitudinally on said threads, an extension or boss on each of saidnuts having a pivotal opening therein, a pivotal belt or pinpassingthrough each of said bosses, and a rocker which is pivotally supportedby being attached directly to both of said pins.

6. The combination of a rotatable steering post having a right hand anda left hand thread thereon, a right hand and a left hand nut movinglongitudinally on said threads, an extension or boss on each of saidnuts having a pivotal opening therein, a pivotal bolt or pin passingthrough each of said bosses, and a rocker which is fulcrumed directlyupon both of said bolts or pins.

7. The combination of a housing, a rotatable steering post enteringtherem having a right hand and a left hand thread Copies of this patentbe obtained for five cents each, by addressing thereon, a right hand anda left hand nut moving longitudinally on said threads, an extension orboss on each of said nuts having a pivotal opening therein, anexternally applied rocker having a member lying on each side of both ofsaid bosses, two externally applied bolts or pins both of which passthrough both members of said rocker, and each of which also passesthrough the pivotal opening in one of said bosses.

S. The combination of a steering post having'a' right hand and a lefthand thread thereon, a right'hand and a left hand nut having both alongitudinal and an oscillatory motion upon said threads, an oscillatingmember, and a means of connecting both of said nuts with saidoscillating member.

9. The combination of a steering post having a thread thereon, a nuttraveling longitudinally and also swinging longitudinally on saidthread, and a meansfor transmitting motion from said nut to an adjacentsteering arm.

10. The combination of a housing, a steering post entering therein andhaving a thread thereon, a nut traveling longitudinally and alsoswinging longitudinally on said thread, and a means for transmittingmotion from said nut to an adjacent steering arm.

11. The combination. of a housing, a 1'0 tatable steering post enteringtherein havmg a right hand and a left hand thread thereon, a right handand a lef hand nutmoving longitudinally on said thread, an extension orboss on each of said nuts having a pivotal opening therein, a rockerhaving a member lying on each side ofboth of said bosses,two externallyapplied belts or pinsboth of which pass through both members of saidrocker, and each of which passes through the pivotal opening in one ofsaid bosses.

12. The combination of a housing, a rotatable steering post enteringtherein, having a right hand and a left hand thread thereon, a righthand and a left hand nut moving longitudinally on said threads, anabutment or boss on each of said nuts, a pivotal belt or pin carried byeach of saidabutinents and a rocking member having a pivotal relationwith said housing by being pivotally mounted on both of said bolts orpins.

WILLIAM H. APPLEMA l l the Goinmissioner of Patents- Washinzton, D. C.

